Accept Me Now as I am Repenting: Holy Wednesday and the anointing of Jesus
"The harlot let out her hair for You the Master; Judas put out his hand to the transgressors of the Law." -Aposticha of Bridegroom Orthros for Holy Wednesday The harlot anoints Jesus for his burial Yesterday we saw Jesus speaking with his disciples about his second coming, and giving images to help the disciples understand what his second coming will be like. All of the Gospel readings for Holy Week that we have seen so far have focused on Jesus' the things Jesus taught while in Jerusalem. Holy Wednesday marks a transition in the narrative of Holy Week from Jesus' teaching ministry to the events directly leading up to his passion. The focus of the hymnology and the Gospel reading ( Matthew 26:6-16 ) for Holy Wednesday is Jesus' anointing with an expensive ointment by a woman who is identified by Luke 7:36-50 simply as a 'sinful woman.' Moreover, she is someone who is known publicly as living a sinful life. This supports her identification ...